In a contentious referendum, residents in Juneau, Alaska have determined in opposition to banning massive cruise ships from docking of their city.
The proposal, which included “ship free Saturdays” and a ban on vessels with over 250 passengers on July 4, was rejected by a majority of voters.
Out of 9,633 votes, 5,788 had been in opposition to the measure, signaling a defeat for many who wished to curb tourism due to issues about overtourism. Although roughly 1,000 ballots are but to be counted, the result is just not anticipated to change considerably and needs to be confirmed by mid-October.
Despite the rejection of the ban, the vote sends a clear message to city officers relating to the need to deal with the inflow of vacationers.
Last yr, Juneau skilled a file-breaking 1.65 million guests, overwhelming its modest population of 32,000.
On peak days, the city can see up to 20,000 cruise ship passengers keen to go to the native glaciers and wilderness. Juneau, nestled in Alaska’s rugged panhandle, is a prime vacation spot for whale watching and glacier tours, accessible solely by boat or plane.
Karla Hart, a native advocate for the voting initiative, expressed her disappointment to Alaska News Source, citing issues over the environmental influence and the pressure of overcrowding on the group.
“The helicopter tours are my number one nemesis,” Ms Hart mentioned. “They drive me away from my house in the summer because the noise is incessant.
“[There are] so many vacationers and seasonal staff.
“When you go downtown, you’re just trying to get yourself to whatever you need to do and get out. The civility has totally diminished in that downtown core area.”
